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Happy 10th Birthday

20 September 2013

The Lombardy Region Botanic Gardens Network is celebrating its 10th birthday with a conference: “Let’s build the future of Botanic Gardens together”. The conference will be held in Bergamo, Sala Curò, Piazza Cittadella, on the 17th and 18th of October 2013 and is open to everybody while seats last!

The conference will provide an opportunity to take stock of the present situation and look to the future. Delegates will reflect on the new roles Botanic Gardens can play in connection with the big issues facing us this century (water shortages, urbanization, biodiversity loss, etc.) and consider the evolution of cultural spaces in our continuously changing socio-economic context.

Organized by Bergamo Botanic Garden and promoted by the Botanic Gardens Group and Italian Botanical Society, there will be a series of workshops and interactive sessions taking place.

Key guest will be Gail Bromley, Head of Community Engagement and Volunteering, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, who will lead participants in exploring the fascinating and complex role of botanic gardens worldwide in addressing the challenges of the 21st Century.

Professor Pietro Pavone, University of Catania, will present Florintesa project, run by ENEA, Italian Research and University Ministry, Italian Botanical Society and Forum Plinianum.

Four exciting sessions will include:1. “Cultural Evolution of Botanic Gardens: from the modern era museum to the relationship museum”. Professor Gianpaolo Azzoni, Pavia University, will lead a workshop that will first set the scene for the need for gardens to use innovative ways of relating to their visitors and secondly provide a space for participants to share specific experiences.2. ” Education stock exchange”. This lively session will provide a unique opportunity for participants to share educational activities and learn how to build connections with visitors of all ages.3. “Fundraising in Botanic Gardens: comparing programmes”. Together with Paolo Celli, from Centrale Etica, there will be a discussion about the actions botanic gardens can take to achieve sustainability.4. A world cafè led by Mara Sugni (Lombardy Region Botanic Gardens Network) and Serena Dorigotti (MUSE, Trento Science Museum). The aim of this session is to build a national Network for Education in Botanic Gardens, looking at needs, stakeholders and resources.

Gabriele Rinaldi, Director of Bergamo Botanic Garden and Head of the Lombardy Region Botanic Gardens Network looks forward to welcoming you to the conference. For more information email Mara Sugni Coordinator of the Network - mara.sugni@libero.it